Faith & Works

There is a lot of misunderstanding regarding faith & works. No one is saved by works, yet he who has no works will not be saved. Was the thief on the cross saved? Yes and no. He was saved from first death, but not necessarily from second death. The misunderstanding is that resurrection and eternal life are not the same event. Some will disagree citing Paul: “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. ” 1 Corinthians 15:51-53

Many assume that the above verses talk about a single event that happens in a flash. Yet it only says that we will be changed in a flash. It doesn’t necessarily say that the perishable will clothed with the imperishable in that same flash. Of course it could be referring to instant resurrection/immortality at the same instant. The problem is other verses.

“I charge you to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will bring about at the right time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see;” 1 Timothy 6:13-16

He alone has immortality whom no one has ever seen? People saw Jesus. That means Jesus is not immortal. Only YHWH. Yet every sect I’m aware of teaches that Jesus is immortal, at least as a result of leading a perfect human life. The scriptures are clear that Jesus will rule forever; that his reign will not end. That does not mean that he is necessarily immortal. Jesus will always be subject to YHWH and lower than him, even though, “God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church,” Ephesians 1:20-22

As goes Jesus, so goes the church. Our work is not done when we die. We will be raised from the dead, then we will live again to help Jesus in the work of the Kingdom of Heaven to help others live righteously, else we die the second death. And the last enemy to be destroyed is death itself. Then we may live eternally, yet still in subjection to YHWH. Regarding works, Ezekiel points out: “But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die. All his transgressions which he has committed will not be remembered against him; because of his righteousness which he has practiced, he will live.Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord God, “rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?” Ezekiel 18:21-23

If the wicked man turns he won’t die? Do not all die? Yes; therefore this must be talking about the second life. This is describing the repentant in the Millennium. An interesting commentary from a Catholic site: http://www.ewtn.com/library/ANSWERS/FAWORKS.HTM